Biraghi saves Italy, gives Mancini first competitive win

Italy's Cristiano Biraghi celebrates his goal against Poland during their Uefa Nations League match at Silesian Stadium on Sunday
Reuters

Cristiano Biraghi slid in the winner two minutes into injury time for his first goal for Italy in a game his team had dominated

Cristiano Biraghi snatched a late victory to give new Italy coach Roberto Mancini his first competitive victory and keep the Azzurri's Nations League hopes alive with a 1-0 win over Poland in their League A Group 3 clash in Chorzow on Sunday.

Defender Biraghi, 26, slid in the winner two minutes into injury time for his first goal for Italy in a game his team had dominated. The defeat ensured Poland were relegated to League B.

It gives Mancini his first competitive victory since taking over as Italy coach last May, after the four-time world champions failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The thrill of a last-gasp win for Italy... and the agony of a stoppage time loss for Poland:https://t.co/nQcN3kmVln

Jorginho rattled the bar within the first minute, with Federico Chiesa also hitting the woodwork after half an hour in the Silesian Stadium.

Poland could thank Wojciech Szczesny for keeping them in the game with the under-pressure goalkeeper denying Alessandro Florenzi, Jorginho, Federico Bernardeschi and Juventus teammate Giorgio Chiellini in the first half.

Italy had a goal disallowed after 65 minutes following a well-worked pass between Bernardeschi and Marco Verratti with Insigne offside in the box.